I’ve been called a robot. Made of stone. Heartless. But that’s because no one ever saw what was underneath. Not until Mina McLennan saw right through me.We made so many mistakes, left each other with scars so deep and wreckage in our wake but I couldn’t help but find her, fight for her. I mean, I fell in love with the way she loved me. And so deeply, so full of a furiously beating heart that I … heart that I asked her to marry me.
Turns out, that was the easy part.
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This is the 2nd book in this duet from Ace. I thought the 1st book was exceptional, but this book was just wow. This is about the thoughts James has in dealing with his feeling’s as well as his emotions after doing something he didn’t even need to do…lol I’m not telling and how Mena has her own struggles in dealing with certain situations and them both finding their way back to each other. You couldn’t ask for a more beautiful story. This Arthur never seizes to amaze me with her writing. This duet I would absolutely recommend and prepare to fall in love with Mena and James.
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The book continues from where we left off in the previous book. Their relationship is on shaky grounds. Both characters feelings are delicate at the moment, questioning the strength of their relationship. They were very vulnerable even when they have a history of misunderstanding, miscommunication and distrust. I guess when you open yourself up in a relationship it’s easy to get hurt and bruised by your own insecurities.
You were a puzzle I tried to solve, a piece I tried to learn the shape of so that I could push it where it belongs.
The first book was the heroines point of view or how she saw their relationship and how she felt from all the events that occurred in the beginning of their relationship. This book is the continuate of All the Letters I’ll Never Send You, and is the heros point of view, his worries and feelings towards the heroine. It follows James present life and his continuous amended vows. It gives us an insight on his mind, and his process to clarity. His own therapy session.
“We’re different. I swear to God we’re different.”
“I know but different isn’t always enough.”
Lots of second guessing and doubting themselves and each other. Heroine is sensitive, neither are fully comfortable being themselves in the relationship. He keeps alot bottled up and doesnt confide in her. He is broken and hurting. He feels he lacks so much that he doesnt deserve to be in a relationship with her. Again on the lack of self esteem. This was a situation where he made a decision but hadnt comprehended the extent of that decision and what it actually means. How can they move forward with their engagement if they dont know how to be a couple or confident in their relationship.
I don’t believe in signs, Mina. I believe in us.
A beautiful story of two people who love each other and fight inner battles to make it work. Very realistic storyline revolving around two realistic characters. The Handwritten & Heartbroken Duet discussed relationship issues between two imperfect people.
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This second book in the duet begins where the first finished, only this one is HIS story.
The crazy complicated love story is even more complicated than in the first book.
The characters are not perfect or sweet, they are full of doubts and skepticism.
They don’t really trust each other or their own feelings.
It’s a vicious cycle that’s so terrible fragile that it have to crash sooner or later.
It’s heartbreaking to see how they are both feeling insecure and unworthy.
How they sabotage themselves and don’t understand what’s happening around them.
This unbelievable gripping nerve-wracking roller-coaster of feelings, self-doubts and self-destruction left me breathless and emotional spend, but oh so happy
Yeah, I know it doesn’t make sense, but this book is just the real, raw and authentic version of a romance. Not the sweet and swoony, but the real thing. Ohhh….it doesn’t matter…
I just loved this book
I don’t know who recommended this duet to me , but thank you
Perfect conclusion, preferred it over the first book.
We pick up wanting the answer to James question, will she or won’t she? One thing is certain, it’s going to be a bumpy ride written from James POV. James and Mina are like two peas from the same pod. So alike that they don’t always see the other person clearly. James is a bit of an introvert and a thinker whilst Mina is a writer, a runner and wears a brave face often. Facing their fears and learning to let the cards fall where they may and trust that everything will be okay.
James and Mina settle into their relationship until they make the trip home to meet her parents. Mina’s father and brother don’t bother hiding their disdain for James. With a curveball being thrown into the mix, Mina is teetering on her axis. Is James able to steady her and be the rock she needs or will they crumble into gravel?
A perfectly Imperfect love story
Have you ever read a book that just guts you, rips your heart out and then puts ever back together….that’s this book.
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Overall Rating: 5 bawling my eyes out stars
Kindle Unlimited: yes
Standalone: no, must read book one of this duet
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If you look at my reading history I avoid feelings like the plague! However, this duet made me feel, feel a lot and I still loved it!
I think I loved it because I have been Mina, in love with someone so much it hurts! I have been James, afraid and making so many mistakes that I screw up the relationship. That I just wanted, no needed these characters to make it through. Crazy right… I didn’t cry just for the characters…I cried for every painful relationship that I had ever been in. I cried for my daughter that is struggling with a relationship, yep I cried!
Mina and James are perfectly imperfect! They both make mistakes, they miscommunicate, they misunderstand, they misinterpret and make missteps. All the while you are reading, and hoping that they can make it through. This book will touch your soul. I know it touched mine.
So to put it simply, read this duet (you have to read book 1 before this). I am sure you will love it like it did! Just be prepared for a very emotional rollercoaster ride! I totally recommend this book and duet!
*Deep breathe* *Exhale*
What an amazing journey of James and Mina. I’ve read plenty books about broken people but these characters weren’t only broken they were so real! Their thoughts, self doubt, pain and choices ran deep and I hurt for them and I became their biggest cheerleader because I was absolutely rooting for them.
I’ve been married for a long time now and this story took me back to the beginning of my beautiful and happy relationship. The beginning where your heart is at risk. The beginning when you don’t know how it will turn out and you know they’ll be hard times BUT you just know in your heart what you want and believe it will be worth it.
This book 2 of the duet is in James POV. The 1st book is in Mina POV. When I started the duet I didn’t know we’d get both POV’s and I’m glad we did. It helped bring this story full circle by getting both sides of the story. I loved it!
I loved the first book and was excited to relive the story through James’ eyes. This duet isn’t your typical romance and there were times I honestly didn’t even know if I WANTED them to be together. Reading about such a raw and strenuous relationship was tough but it was all worth it. I’m glad they fought for it and being able to see all the hard stuff from James’ perspective was incredible. I felt all the insecurities and pain in a way only a good book can make you feel.
Dear Worth Your Weight in Gold,
After reading the first book in Mena’s perspective, James was in need of a bit of redemption. All this time I thought maybe he really was all the reasons why loving someone was just not enough. Having seen these same things through James’s eyes, I now feel all the reasons true love is worth fighting for. You managed to bring me all the angst I could handle all wrapped up with a heartbroken bow. You brought me real people with their real and raw struggles to find their paths while trying to fit into eachothers lives. You managed to make me want to strangle and hug these characters simultaneously. That a true love story can come from some of the most unexpected places. You have shown me that there are in fact two sides to every story. This was the side of a love story that is needed to make it complete.
I love James and Mina. To hear his side of the story where the first book stops…be still my heart. This duet tells the story of two flawed people, navigating
through their “stuff” in the hope of attaining a love they deserve.
I can’t believe it’s even possible that Ace outdid herself. The conclusion of this duet had me on my knees forgetting to breathe. The emotions she poured into the pages felt like it bled from my own heart. I felt more connected to James than even I had to Mina. I was there for every beat of his heart as he wrestled with himself as this tale of love in its most fragile state continues.
This book is told from James’ POV and I’m so glad. I easily connected with him and the way his mind works. The emotions are just as raw and somehow maybe even moreso. He doesn’t wear his heart on his sleeve but there’s a lot going on beneath the surface. It’s a beautifully crafted and uniquely told tale about all the pieces of his heart, even the most jagged that are drenched in fear and cling to the shadows. I craved each page more than my next breath. Words could never do justice to how much these characters mean to me and how emotional every word made me, they’re forever carved on my heart. Their love is anything but ordinary. It’s a love that I felt deep in my soul. I’ll never be the same but maybe that’s a good thing.
I am always struggling to find words when it comes to reviewing books that I love. And this one was love at first sight and then grew deeper as I went through the pages. Since you need to read book 1 first, I won’t delve into the story, but I can assure you that you will definitely enjoy James’ POV. Ace Gray’s writing is phenomenal and her ability to bring out so much emotion is unparalleled. I couldn’t have asked for a better conclusion to this duet and I recommend it wholeheartedly. So buckle up and enjoy the ride!
Again, my heart was literally touched from the very first page! I loved Ed getting James’ perspective and feelings expressed in his letters. He wrote how he felt at the moment and as he’d review them his words on the pages I felt his emotions! My curiosity to learn more about his insecurities and raw emotions and his feelings for Mina. No matter what James remained an enigma within his set ways. We then learn more of what he felt about what transpired between him and Mina. It came to a satisfying conclusion to this unique and captivating story!
This Duet is unique and realistic and so very different from the “norm” in its delivery and concept. I can’t recommend this enough! Kudos to Ace Gray!
So this is book 2 of a duet which means you will need to have read book 1, All the Letters I’ll Never Send, prior to starting this book so that you are not lost!
This book gives us James’s point of view, something I have been dying for since I finished book 1. Since I do not want to spoil the storyline, I will just say this…I think my heart fell out of my chest and onto the actual floor while reading this. I had all of the feels going on and Ace Gray continues to surprise me with each book she releases. She has such a unique and creative writing style that I have yet to find anywhere else.
Grab this duet today, you will fall in love!! Seriously, do it and start binging!
After reading Book 1 in this unforgettable duet I was content with how things ended. When I found out that Ace was writing book 2, from James’ POV, I realized it could be the icing on the cake to make this story whole. This part of their story made everything that much more vivid reading about HIS emotions and HIS self-doubt. I am a James. I understand his uncomfortable way of showing too many feelings. I feel his frustration with Mina. And I have so many dear friends that are Minas, so it makes this duet more heartfelt to me as a reader. But I think I feel his frustration with himself most of all.
James and Mina’s story is hard. It’s deeply emotional. It’s exasperating as hell. It’s real. All The Letters I’ve Ever Read brought them back together in a sweet, tentative, realistic way. In the end, there is still hesitation and worry, as there always is in relationships, but their resolve to be more open, to communicate better, leaves their story full of hope. 5 plus stars for this book and this duet. I strongly recommend that you open your mind to this beautifully painful, original story.
All The Letters I’ve Ever Read is book 2 in the Handwritten & Heartbroken Duet by author Ace Gray and it is emotionally raw, full of heartache, real to life, and a story uniquely its own.
This book is told through the POV of James and it was so interesting to watch the story continue to unfold through his eyes. To finally get his perspective and get a full picture of Mina and his relationship.
James and Mina’s love is not straightforward. It is not wrapped in a pretty package for a happily ever after. It is real.
In this book, we see them struggle. We see them shut each other out. And, we see them both make mistakes that cost them their trust in what they have. But, we also see these two characters fight for what they want. They desperately search for a way to be together. There is no easy path for them, but one thing that is clear throughout this entire duet, is that they are soulmates and best friends; Soul-Syncable.
This is a realistic story about two people who’s love isn’t easy. They grapple with their baggage, harbour past hurts, and let their insecurities get the better of them. We get to see their good, their bad, and their ugly. But, in the end we are left with a beautiful story about love and friendship.
“Love like yours is real and rough and raw. It’s the love we should write books about, the type that we should crave because of its honesty. Because it’s real.”
Congratulations Ace! This Duet and these characters will forever be ingrained in me. Thank you, once again, for a story that is utterly unique and completely special.
………….……!!!!! I was seriously questioning if these two belong together. It really seems that their relationship was doomed from the start.Their relationship is severely sad, pitiful and HARD. James and Mina continuously hurt each other, questioning the other’s actions and motives.
The constant mistrust and disbelief is overwhelming and frustrating for me, I couldn’t imagine being in the thick of it. The doubt that needled its way into their thoughts, the guilt that comes along with that doubt. Their relationship so fragile, taking hits from all sides all while trying to navigate through each and every mistake and shit storm. The desperation to just hold on and not let go when you know that it is probably best for both parties to just go your separate ways. The not wanting to give up because you know that they are your person, that they are that FOREVER ONE. The fear and self preservation of being hurt and having to live with that brokenness, or worse yet, live without the other once you have had them ingrained into your heart and soul.
There comes a time when you just need to walk away and let go, and perhaps James and Mina should have done it long ago. …………But they didn’t.
They say anything worth having is worth fighting for, but this relationship was almost like beating a dead horse. And although that horse was dead, somehow Ace Gray breathed life back into it. The turbulent ride that she takes you on in this last leg of the duet from James’ POV is stormy and emotional and all worth riding out the chaotic rollercoaster that is James and Mina. For every moment I thought that they didn’t belong together, there is an equalled moment that I was rooting for them both to find their happy forever.
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4.5* Stars!!
3.5
I enjoyed this one more. But the writing is still kind of robotic. And not just the writing style, but the characters also. I can almost hear the dialogue spoken, but without feeling and infliction like the author is numb. I know these 2 books were more cathartic for her than just her writing a book so maybe that is the cause of the robotic feeling.
I LOVEDDDD This story. This is the 2nd book in this duet. I love getting a view from another person about a story. I feel like I’m getting the full story. I love how emotional this story is as well. I my self am an emotional person so I get a chance to connect with a character I would definitely. Suggest this duet to everyyyyyoonnneeee.
**If you have not read All The Letters I’ll Never Send You (book 1 of the Handwritten & Heartbroken Duet), you need to do that before you read this one!
There’s something special about books that you can relate to. I could relate to book 1 of this series through the letters that Mina wrote to James….even though he never got them. Writing letters has always been an easier way to express myself than verbally. However, with book 2, I can connect with the characters because of the insecurities that sometimes accompany relationships. They are not always voiced and not often legitimate concerns but all it takes is one time for something to happen or almost happen for it to become a concern. Sometimes it doesn’t even take that, often it’s just a deep-rooted fear of ours that we are afraid would come true. Sadly…it’s often these fears that cause us to lose the ones we love and not the action happening itself!
After the heart torturing that Ace gave us in book 1, James & Mina decide to give their relationship a real try. Life hasn’t always been easy for them; what with one of them being taken when they met. Upon first meeting, these two forged a friendship deeper than any relationship either have ever had or ever will. Both seeing the person inside and loving that person for who they are and not who people want them to be. However, accompanying this friendship is the pain experienced from seeing the person you love with another and knowing you can’t do anything about it because they don’t belong to you in that way. This pain went both ways for Mina & James; both watching each other with another person and neither doing anything to change it. Now, the decisions of their past cause both to have insecurities within their relationship and since James has a huge problem communicating verbally about his own issues or insecurities they just fester inside. Add on top of this a traumatic experience for Mina and it’s just too much!
There are other characters in this book trying to keep these characters apart and I might or might not have wanted to punch one in the balls a couple times. Ok…I really did want to! James & Mina allowing these extra parties to create a divide between them is the part that’s severly wrong. There’s a strength I can sense between these two characters but it just hasn’t been nurtured and grown like it was supposed to so, at the first sign of trouble one or both bailed in different ways.
My absolute favorite thing about this one is that it’s in James POV. When I finished All The Letters I’ll Never Send You; I knew the one thing that would make this duet even more amazing was getting his POV. The growth these two characters exhibit in this book; both personally and together is amazing. Although the pain of them being apart hurt my heart and even if they never get back together; their growth alone is worth it. Sometimes what and who we want doesn’t always work out the way we think it will; but for that person or that pain to help you grow is sometimes all we can ask for.
“We were always forever, we were just the last to know.” -James Larrabee
All The Letters I’ve Ever Read is the conclusion to this duet! Ace Gray has wrote a story that will have you hooked and your emotions all over the place! Still not wanting to give away whether Mina and James make it, l really want you to read their story to find out!